City Council

April 17, 2019 Budget Work Session A special meeting of the Council of the City of Martinsville, Virginia, was held on April 17, 2019, in Council Chambers, Municipal Building, at 6:00PM, to conduct a budget work session with Mayor Kathy Lawson presiding. Council Members present included Mayor Lawson, Vice Mayor Chad Martin, Council Member Jim Woods, Council Member Jennifer Bowles and Council Member Danny Turner. Staff present included City Manager Leon Towarnicki, Assistant City Manager Wayne Knox, City Attorney Eric Monday, and Finance Director Linda Conover Mayor Lawson opened the Council meeting. City Manager Towarnicki recognized City Attorney Monday for his recent presentation on Martinsville’s history, stating everyone in attendance thoroughly enjoyed it. Rick Ward, Director of the Blue Ridge Regional Library system introduced additional staff including Martinsville Branch Manager Cecil Holland, Board Chairperson Nancy Haskins and Program Coordinator Leander Gravely in attendance. Ward thanked Council for considering approval of level funding. Gravely detailed some of the new programs being offered through the library system as well as upcoming events. JR Powell, Director of the Martinsville-Henry County 911 Center summarized the call load, statistics from this past year for the center and detailed projects they are working on. Amy Rice, Social Services Director and Bonnie Covington, Administrative Services Manager, Lisa Thompson and April Evans, representatives of the Martinsville-Henry County Social Services Department attended and provided a local agency profile report for Council’s review. Rice explained that there has been an increase in residents needing assistance through Social Service’s programs. Ricky Walker, Director of Operations at ANCHOR thanked Council for considering his request for level funding and detailed what to expect from the Martinsville group home this next year. Walker described improvements and renovations. City Manager Towarnicki encouraged Council to look through additional outside agencies proposed budgets, pointing out that they were asking for level funding. Towarnicki discussed and answered questions on the capital budget and department requests. Council discussed the school budget. City Attorney Monday stated that the budget would need approval before the schools start back so awarding the funds based on student enrollment could be tricky. City Manager Towarnicki recommended that Council allocate what the proposed budget lists with the option to award an additional amount after school enrollment in September. Council agreed that they do not want to increase utility rates; however, Council Member Bowles wants to consider an increase in real estate and/or personal property taxes to raise revenue in general. Council requests City Manager Towarnicki to research figures for an increase in personal property tax. April 17, 2019 Budget Work Session There being no further business, Council Member Bowles made a motion to adjourn. Council Member Turner second the motion with all Council Members voting in favor. The meeting adjourned at 8:30 pm. ___________________________________ ___________________________________ Karen Roberts, Clerk of Council Kathy Lawson, Mayor